The Bet 2: Dark Secrets
By: Fox Almasy
Ch. 3
I'll be back
Fox: wow thanks for the reviews and I'm so glad you've all taken a liking to this story. Some parts are going to be a bit harsh, like the flashbacks of Brad's childhood, but I think I'm pleased with where it's headed.
Kojisa: yep yep and we apologize for the wait needless to say water polo and school are really taking their toll especially AP language. So forgive me and fox and we'll try and post as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: Ya we don't own except Riley, Benji and a few more who will remain nameless. Enjoy
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Brad stared out at the runway nervously as they waited for Sarah Obscura's arrival. He glanced over at Naomi and frowned.
"You sure you're going to be OK by yourself."
"Don't worry Brad I'm a big girl I think I can handle it." he nodded and sat down next to her and watched as Riley pressed her face to the large window in front of them. Nobody else seemed as nervous as he was. He was vaguely aware of Benji staring at him from the seat across from him.
"Brad you OK?" the singer questioned.
"Yeah I'm just not too keen on flying."
"Why?"
"It's a long story." they stood suddenly as Sarah walked toward them. Her hair was swept up into a bun and she was wearing a knee length black skirt and blazer. She glanced around at them briefly before pursing her lips and continuing through the terminal and onto the private jet awaiting them.
"Alright guys lets go." responded Jack as he followed the foul woman on board. Brad turned to Naomi and grinned.
"I'll call you when we get there OK." she nodded as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Come on Brad we don't got all day." he rolled his eyes and gave Naomi a quick kiss before following Bit onto the jet.
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Benji peered at Brad from the corner of his eyes as the jet began to descend. Brad groaned at the annoying feeling of his stomach in his throat and greatly wished he was on the ground already. His knuckles were turning white from gripping the seat too hard. Benji noticed Brad's distress, but decided he wouldn't bring it up till later.
The Los Angeles airport was crowded with hundreds of people pushing their way so that they didn't miss their flight. Brad watched as a boy and girl followed closely behind their parents all the while trying to hit each other without drawing attention. The mother turned and shook her finger at them angrily before grabbing both their wrists and pulling them after her.
Brad looked up as Benji handed him his bag and he quickly took it and slung the black duffel over his shoulder. He stood from where he was sitting and followed the others out to where a limo was waiting them.
The hotel they were staying at was very classy and right down from the walk of fame. The doors to the lobby were large and made of glass. The lobby was polished and waxed and people moved around with expensive clothing and other accessories. Brad felt slightly out of place in his black tank top and jeans. He could feel people looking at them as they stood behind Sarah while she retrieved the keys. Brad studied their managers face and noticed the cranky stern look that always seemed to adjourn her features.
She turned swiftly on her heal and held out the keys to them.
"You boys need to come up with sleeping arrangements. You'll each be sharing a room so two to a room." Brad reached for the keys and watched as she made her way up the spiraling stairwell as a bell boy followed eagerly behind. Brad turned to the others and held up his key.
"I'll bunk with Benji and you two can get the other room." everyone simply shrugged and nodded. They all seemed exhausted from the flight and Brad was convinced that he popped a vessel in his fingers from gripping the seat. They made their way to the elevator and went straight to their rooms.
Brad threw his bag onto one of the beds then sat down on the edge and drew the phone toward him. Leaning over he quickly dialed his apartment number and waited as it rang 3 times before Naomi answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Naomi, just calling to let you know we've arrived."
"Oh good! How was the flight?"
"Tolerable." he could hear Riley in the background just as Benji said he wanted to speak to his daughter. "Benji wants to talk to Riley." Brad handed the phone over and laid back on the full size bed. His ears still seamed to be ringing from the flight and his stomach was growling. Brad listened to Benji speak with Riley before the phone was handed back to him.
"So how's your manager working out?" Brad rolled his eyes before answering.
"Lets just say something died up her ass a long time ago." Naomi began to laugh and Brad smiled in return.
"Well I'll let you go. Make sure you go eat."
"Alright see you when we get back."
"Bye."
"Bye." Brad placed the phone back into the cradle and stood up, raising his arms above his head to remove the kinks in his back. Benji yawned and stood with Brad.
"Hungry?" the young singer questioned as they moved towards the door.
"Starving. Think they've got any good food down the walk of fame?"
"Maybe I've never been here."
"Alright come on." as they closed the door to their room Bit and Jack joined them and the four band members slowly made their way downstairs and onto the walk of fame.
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Naomi sighed as she laid back on the bed. She was painfully aware of the empty space on the bed beside her and she began to realize how she was so use to having Brad beside her. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling where lights from below panned across the white surface. The door creaked open and Naomi sat up to see Riley standing beside her bed nervously.
"What's wrong sweetie?" the little girl looked up at her shyly and rung the bottom of her night gown.
"Naomi could I stay in here with you? Usually whenever I'm scared or lonely Daddy lets me sleep with him in his bed."
"You miss him don't you?" Riley nodded her head and climbed onto the bed as Naomi pulled the sheets back for the little girl to snuggle into. They were facing each other and Naomi reached out to gently brush her hair from her face. Riley yawned and scooted closer so that her head was pressed beneath Naomi's chin and her toes were tucked between her legs. Naomi smiled and draped her arm gently around Riley's small frame.
"Naomi?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you and Brad ever going to have children?" Naomi blinked slightly caught off by the question. She had always wanted kids and remembered when she was younger how she had it all planned out. She wanted two kids close in age, because if there were only 1 it turned out spoiled and in her opinion 3 was just too many. Two close in age however kept each other entertained and less spoiled.
"I don't know. We're not married."
"But you live together."
"Some people do even when they're not married."
"Oh. Well you should get married. When I grow up I'm going to marry my Daddy. Because I am his princess." Naomi smiled at the childhood fantasy. What little girl didn't want to marry their daddy?
Naomi could remember the image of her father when she was a little girl. He was tall and invincible, well at least he was to her. He could scare away anything and could protect her from everything. She remembered him checking under the bed when ever she thought something was under there and telling her stories when she couldn't fall asleep.
"That's great Riley."
"Goodnight Naomi."
"Goodnight."
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Brad stared down at the guitar in his lap as his mother stepped back to watch his expression. He glanced up at her and watched her look at him hopefully.
"Happy 12th birthday Brad. The man said it was an acoustic, I wasn't sure what you wanted. Is this OK?" Brad didn't know what to say. He opened and closed his mouth a few times trying to form the words. He finally stood up and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"Mom it's perfect thank you so much!"
"Oh I'm glad you like it. I was worried." he stepped back from her embrace and picked up the instrument gently. Then smiling at her once more he turned to go to his room. Jessica smiled and hurried into the kitchen to start dinner and make a cake.
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Brad looked up from the brand new chords as his dad's voice managed to drift into his room. He was drunk again and was asking about the special occasion. He could hear his mother's soft reply that it was Brad's birthday and that she wanted to bake him a cake. The drunken man must have noticed the guitar box because his voice began to rise.
"What the hell is dis?"
"it's Brad's present."
"Why the hell you buy him that for? He doesn't need that! It's just a waste of money."
"But I-" there was a loud echoing sound of someone being slapped and Brad already new it was his mom. He waited hoping that his dad would get over it, but Brad had no such luck. There was another slapping sound and Brad quickly ran out of his room and into the kitchen. His dad had his hand raised to hit her again, but was stopped as Brad rushed over and punched him in the back of the head. Jessica screamed as he stumbled forward before reeling around to face Brad.
"Why you ungrateful little bastard." the older man's fingers curled into a fist as he drew his hand back. Jessica reached out to keep his arm from swinging down, but he shoved her off so that she fell back, burning her hand viciously on the stove. He swung at Brad, connecting with his son's boney cheek and sent him flying back against the cabinets, making all the pots and pans fall out.
"Brad!" Jessica started forward, but found herself thrown to the side as her husband grabbed Brad's hair and hauled him up from the ground.
"You want to fight me?" he screamed in his face. Then grabbing Brad's arm he twisted it behind his back and grinned at the sound of a bone snapping. Then he shoved Brad's face up against the wall and leaned down to his ear. "You still think you can beat me?" he twisted Brad's broken arm wrenching a cry of pain from Brad. His father then pulled him away from the wall and shoved him into Jessica's arms. She was sobbing quietly as she cradle him against her and examined his mangled arm.
"Oh God come on I'll take you to the hospital." she started to stand, but fell back down as her husband hit her once more. She stared up at him, eyes wide and scared.
"And you always want to know why I drink. Its cause I live in this shit hole with you two. You'd make anyone resort to drinking!" He then turned and walked into the living room. Jessica quickly scrambled to her feet and helped Brad to his, before grabbing the keys to the car and driving him to the hospital.
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Brad's eyes snapped open as he sat up and stared into the darkness. He glanced to the other bed to see Benji snoring softly. Brad shook his head and stood up from the bed. His head was pounding and his mother's scream was still loud in his ears. He remembered the doctors questioning stare as he and his mother entered the emergency room battered and beaten. Surprisingly though they didn't push the issue and simply placed a cast on Brad's broken arm.
The next day at school kids had come up to him curious at how he had done it. He didn't answer however and simply shrugged off their questions. Some found it funny that he had broken his arm on his birthday.
Sighing Brad reached into the mini fridge and grabbed out a bottle of water. Walking back to the bed he broke the seal and took a quick drink. He set the bottle on the side table and stared around the room, not too keen on going back to sleep. The alarm's red numbers glared back at him. He sighed, slightly frustrated and wondering why he was awake at 2:30. Leaning toward the table he grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. Flipping through the channels he finally stopped on some movie and made a feeble attempt to go back to sleep.
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Fox: Alright 3rd chappy. WOOT WOOT! Thanks much for the reviews
Kojisa: yep and don't forget to review this time also! Oh and if any of ya's interested in FF8 go check out our story. Its got a higher rating than this, but it's gonna be good. (well at least we hope it will be)
Audi!